#DailyDevotion The Nations Will Drink The Cup Of God’s Wrath
Ob. 15 “For the day of the LORD is near for all the nations. As you did, it will be done to you. What you did will come back on you. 16 As you drank on My holy mountain, all the nations will keep on drinking. They will drink and swallow down and then be as though they had never been.
Now it seems like the LORD is expanding His vision of judgment here. Not only Edom will receive judgment but for all nations. The imminent destruction of Edom is included in the coming destruction of all nations.
The Bible does not teach karma (as it is actually taught in Buddhism). It does teach divine justice and retribution. What the Edomites did to others, particularly to Judah and Israel, will come down upon them. They will not escape.
The prophet Jeremiah speaks of Edom’s judgment in chapter 49, “12The LORD says this: ‘If those who aren’t sentenced to drink the cup must drink it, should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished but must drink it. 13I swear by Myself,’ says the LORD, ‘Bozrah will become a horrible example: it will be scorned, laid in ruins, and cursed, and all the towns depending on her will be ruins forever.’”
Drinking is a sign of divine judgment and wrath. The LORD knows about hangovers, particularly those caused by wine. He will not only make Edom drink of the cup of His wrath but all nations. We see this again in Revelation. In chapter 14 it reads, “9A third angel followed them. “If anyone worships the beast and his statue,” he called out with a loud voice, “and is branded on his forehead or on his hand, 10he must also drink of the wine of God’s anger, poured out unmixed into the cup of His punishment, and must be tortured by fire and sulfur before the holy angels and before the Lamb.” In chapter 16 we read, “4The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water and they turned to blood. 5I heard the angel of the waters say: ‘O holy One, You are and You were. You are just in judging this way; 6they have poured out the blood of holy people and prophets, and You gave them blood to drink as they deserve.’ 7I heard the altar answer: ‘Yes, Lord God Almighty, Your judgments are true and just.’”
We as Christians are aliens, strangers, foreigners in this world and whatever country we reside. We should wear our earthly citizenship loosely. We may be proud to be Americans or whatever nations you belong to, but realize all, I mean all nations act contrary to the way of the LORD Jesus Christ. All nations, including my beloved USA, cause trials, troubles, and tribulations to God’s holy people. We need only look at what happened to Christians in Iraq, Syria and other places we “liberated” people. We are called nevertheless to be good citizens of whatever county we are residing in by praying for our leaders, obeying the laws not contrary to God’s revealed will, and paying our taxes. Knowing the coming judgment upon all nations for their sins against the Almighty, let us not be too patriotic and participate in the sins of whatever nation we belong. Our loyalty is to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Heavenly Father, always grant us repentance that we not participate in the sins of our nation, but call our fellow citizens to repentance and live holy lives pleasing to You and to the glory of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.